- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- home style today articles
- home style today q&a
- traveling today articles
- traveling today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Economical Family Fun
Inexpensive Ideas for Home and Travel
By Megan L. Fowler
"I think we all know there are lots of things kids want to buy, but there is so much you can do without spending a dime," says Betsy Taylor, author of What Kids Really Want That Money Can't Buy (Grand Central Publishing, 2003). "You can tell stories together or organize an evening with friends and create a narrative where everyone adds to the story."
Or try stargazing, she says. "One of the most popular things to do in my neighborhood is to get together for any kind of cosmic event," Taylor says. She suggests going to a school ball field where lights aren't so intrusive and watching a meteor shower. "Notice the seasons and celebrate them," she says.
There are also so many games you can play with your kids that have been lost in the digital commercial life. "Try charades, capture the flag or even old-fashioned board games that bring everyone together," Taylor says.
Fly a kite, go fishing, build a playhouse out of scrap wood or let your kids put on plays. Try planting something, even just a seed on your windowsill. Kids love getting dirty, so harvest something, pick berries and then make jam together. With all the work and rushing around we do, often we don't have time to do the simple things. Try teaching your kids how to cook or bake. "Invite a bunch of kids over and have a cooking party," Taylor says.
Taylor also suggests sharing a skill. "Maybe you know how to carve or make things with your hands," she says. "Take the time to teach your child something that's important to you."
As a family, you could even trace your ancestry. "Take your kids to meet the oldest relative in the family and videotape them," Taylor says. "Now you have this special collection of stories for your child. Good times made simple is the lost art of fun. We need to reclaim fun in our lives."
While spending time with your kids is important, it is also equally important to spend some time alone as a couple, Taylor says. "Just stop and retreat," she says. "You don't necessarily have to book a trip, but try bartering a weekend with a neighbor."
